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With the cause of the devastating boardwalk fire revealed, some Seaside residents are questioning whether more could have been done to prevent the massive blaze. NBC10's Ted Greenberg has the story. (Published Friday, Sep 20, 2013)

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said the wiring was in an area between the boardwalk and flooring of Kohr's Custard Shop and Biscayne Candies that is inaccessible to people.

"You have to tear down the entire building to get to the wire," Coronato said. "I believe it's inaccessible."

Cause of Boardwalk Fire Revealed

Investigators say they also ruled out smoking and arson and list the official cause of the fire as accidental.

The wiring, installed after 1970, was submerged under salt water and sand for some time during Superstorm Sandy, according to officials. They say over time the exposure allowed the wires to degrade and spark.

Investigators in Strathmere, another seaside town battered by the superstorm, said at that time electrical equipment damaged by flooding played a role in a house fire.

Asked on Tuesday whether officials were concerned more fires could be sparked by Sandy-damaged electrical equipment, Coronato would only say home and business owners affected by the storm should get an inspection by a licensed electrician.

As for who owned the corroded wires, that remains unclear. Officials said they serviced the businesses, but shortly after the fire findings were announced, the local electric company said are launching an investigation to determine whose responsible for maintaining the wires.

JCP&L spokesman Scott Surgeoner told NBC New York's Brian Thompson the probe will begin in the next 24-hours and will be carried out quickly. He added "most, if not all" of the electric company's wires were inspected post-Sandy.

HELPING WITH THE RECOVERY

State officials were on hand Monday afternoon to offer assistance to businesses and residents affected by Thursday's fire, which destroyed four blocks of boardwalk businesses.

Representatives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and other agencies are providing information at the Seaside Heights Municipal Complex.

The administration said it hopes the extra aid will speed the rebuilding. Dozens of businesses were destroyed in the blaze on a boardwalk that had only recently been repaired from damage it sustained in Sandy.

“We're moving as swiftly and aggressively as we can to help these communities and their boardwalk businesses rebuild from this unfortunate stumbling block to our overall Sandy recovery,” Christie said.

Christie called the damage to some existing structures a safety hazard that needed to be addressed quickly. He said that covering the cost of debris removal would allow governments and businesses to "get down to work immediately to restore one of the Jersey Shore's most iconic boardwalks.''

The funding will be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority through an existing Superstorm Sandy block grant program.

“The extensive damage caused by Thursday's fire has made the Seaside community's recovery from Superstorm Sandy all the more difficult,” said Richard Constable, the state community affairs commissioner. He said his staff will work with local officials to determine which fire-damaged buildings are unsafe and need to be torn down.